GHV girls off to a strong start

by Michelle Watson

The Garner-Hayfield-Ventura girls softball team came out a bit flat in their opening game of the season when they faced Emmetsburg Monday, May 20.

Emmetsburg came ready to play, posting six runs in the first inning.  They followed that with three more in the top of the third before the Cardinals posted a run.  Jailyn Krein singled on a fly ball to center field that allowed Jayden Hughes to score, 9-1. GHV scored again in the bottom of the sixth when Nicole Upmeyer stole home.  The E-Hawks scored the final run of the game in the seventh inning making the final score 10-2.

Maddie Graham took the loss for the Cardinals.  She surrendered nine runs on nine hits over two and two-thirds innings.  She struck out one.  Kylie Hughes was brought in for relief on the mound.  She gave up five hits and one run, while striking out two.

“Kylie and her pitching kept us in the game.  Unfortunately, we couldn’t get a timely hit to get the job done with runners on base,” said Coach Kaitlin Murphy.

Krein and Megan Oetken led the team at the plate with two hits apiece.  Krein also had an RBI.

Scoring GHV’s two runs were Jayden Hughes and Nicole Upmeyer.

The Cardinals were strong in the field and didn’t commit a single error.  Catcher Emily VanDusseldorp made the most plays with six.

“Getting the first game out of the way is the biggest hurdle.  Of course, we would have liked to come out on the other side of things, but this gives us a focus for practice,” said Murphy.

GHV 10, N-K 5

A huge first inning helped the Cardinals to a 10-5 victory over Northwood-Kensett on Thursday, May 23.

Stolen bases were key in the first inning, with Jayden Hughes, Trinity Smith and Nicole Upmeyer all crossing home on steals.  Hughes tripled on a pop fly to right field, bringing in Sadie Oulman and Payton Harle for an early 7-0 lead.

The Cardinals scored again in the top of the third.  Oulman hit a grounder to first base, allowing Kylie Hughes to cross home.  N-K rallied in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs.

The fourth inning saw both teams scoring one run apiece, 9-4.  Jayden Hughes scored for the Cards.

Northwood-Kensett scored one run in the sixth inning, 9-5.  Upmeyer stole home again for the final run of the game, 10-5.

Maddie Graham earned the win on the mound.  She pitched four innings, allowing five hits and three runs, while striking-out two.  Kylie Hughes threw three innings in relief and recorded two strike-outs.

GHV tallied seven hits, with  Hughes and Upmeyer recording multiple hits.

The Cards tallied a whopping 20 stolen bases.  Jayden Hughes led the charge with six.  Graham and Kylie Hughes had five stolen bases apiece.